Demo days at Asheville

I've been in Asheville since Wednesday to do demonstrations of tapestry weaving at the Southern Highland Craft Guild's Folk Art Center.  Today was the Guild's annual Fiber Days and lots of other of the Guild's members in fiber were set up in the auditorium with demonstrations of many techniques, including felting, spinning, quilting, weaving, bobbin lace and more.  Several of them also had hands-on activities for children (of all ages) planned.  Tomorrow is the fiber fashion show that Liz Spear coordinates, at 1 and 3 p.m.  I'll end my demo stint tomorrow afternoon and head about an hour south to spend a short time in a much needed retreat with my friends Noel and Patrick, Parker and Erika, Macroni and Professor, and assorted chickens.

Here's an overview as the event opened... the crowd grew through the day...

My demonstration area is in the lobby; here's a view of one side of it:

The tapestry that I'm working on is one based on another kudzu drawing.  It's of a cluster of leaves and seed pods.  I'm weaving with the image turned 90˚ to the way it will hang.  The size is 20" high x 22" wide, sett at 8 epi with 12/15 cotton seine twine.  Weft is both Vevgarn used two fold, and 20/2 worsted Norwegian wool used five fold.  

Here's a detail of the images I'm working from... have lots of the photos nearby for color inspiration.  The drawing from which the cartoon is based is on the board, also.  I chose to crop one section of the drawing for the tapestry design... the lower cluster of leaves.

A detail of the piece:

I'm donating this tapestry for the raffle being held to benefit the Blue Ridge Fiber Show, to be held in the fall at the NC Arboretum.  I'll be sending progress photos to Karen Donde as I work on it so she can use it for her raffle efforts.  Check out the blog of her and her partner's hand weaving studio and shop in Asheville at this link.

I've always loved being able to participate in the Blue Ridge Fiber Show (formerly known as the Blue Ridge Handweaving Show) and want to give a little something back.  One of the very important thing about this exhibit is that it's a open exhibit--no juror selects what's going to be exhibited.  At this point in my life, I think these kinds of exhibits have more validity than juried exhibits so I will do everything in my power to promote and aid these sorts of shows.  No more pre-juried events for me... too subjective.  

So, if anyone would like a tapestry of mine, a one-of-a-kind that's related to the ongoing theme of nature that I have been doing for the past decade or more, please check out the raffle details.  Many others are donating work to be included in the raffle to aid this very important fiber exhibit.  I'll post how one can participate later.

And, here's another shot of some of the activity at the Folk Art Center today... this is a view from the second level where the galleries are located, looking down at the Allanstand sales shop area.  A tapestry of mine is hanging at the end of the shop (the apples that you see in the distance).

And, lastly... here's an overview of part of the Focus Gallery exhibit of the work of my friend, Diane Getty and mine, on display until June 15.